"Let's Designate No-Drinking Zones in Parks and Other Areas in Gyeongbuk"... Seoseok Young, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Member, Introduces Ordinance Bill

Severe Drunkenness in Goryeong, Pohang, and Uljin

Seok-Young Seo, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (People Power Party, Pohang), has taken the lead in proposing the "Ordinance on Creating a Healthy Drinking Culture Environment in Gyeongsangbuk-do" to promote the health and welfare of residents by fostering a sound drinking culture environment.

The ordinance, which passed the review of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council's Administration, Health, and Welfare Committee on February 27, includes key provisions such as the designation and operational support of no-drinking zones, education and promotion of drinking culture, recommendations to restrict sponsorship activities related to alcohol advertising, and the imposition of fines for violations of no-drinking zones.

Seok-Young Seo, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member.

According to the "2023 Community Health Survey Alcohol-Related Statistics" by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, among the 22 cities and counties in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 17?excluding Gimcheon-si, Sangju-si, Uiseong-gun, Cheongdo-gun, and Chilgok-gun?showed high-risk drinking rates above the national median of 13.2%. In particular, Uljin-gun (23.6%), Goryeong-gun (21.9%), and Nam-gu, Pohang (20.5%) were found to have serious issues, indicating the need to strengthen education, promotion, and prevention projects regarding the harms of high-risk drinking.

The WHO recommends regulating drinking in public places as part of policies to limit alcohol accessibility to prevent alcohol-related harm, and public demand for improving alcohol-related issues in public spaces is increasing in South Korea as well.

In his proposal explanation, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council member Seok-Young Seo stated, "In South Korea, access to alcohol is easy regardless of time and place, and the drinking culture is more permissive compared to other countries, which encourages drinking throughout society." He added, "Because alcohol consumption causes harm not only to the individual but also to others through violence, drunk driving, and serious crimes, and because the socioeconomic costs are overwhelmingly higher than those of smoking or obesity, this ordinance was proposed to protect the safety and health of residents."

A representative of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council said, "Among the 17 metropolitan local governments nationwide, 13?excluding Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Chungbuk, and Ulsan?have designated no-drinking zones in places such as parks, and impose fines for violations."